I FIND it incredible that, despite warnings as early as 1996 of the dire effects of the loss of the Post Office's 350-gram monopoly, and its subsequent removal by the EU, we are still expected to believe that there is no connection between that and the present policy of closing down one-third of the sub post offices in the country. And to make matters worse, we are supposed to accept that it is all about a lack of viability.

Eddie Herbert from the Post Office says (Guide, April 16) that he has walked the distances to the next nearest post offices. I don't know how old Eddie Herbert is but I can assure him that the old and infirm who are being subjected to this further hardship are in no position to complete the same walk!

We are told of a massive consultation exercise. There has also been massive opposition.

In the recent past I have been deeply involved in consultation exercises over the closures of Florence Nightingale and Bury General hospitals, as well as working on the steering group fighting to save Warthfield residential home.

My conclusion is that while "negotiation" means working together to reach a decision, "consultation" usually means "We will tell you what we are going to do. You can voice your opinion, but it won't make the slightest difference because we know best".

In this instance, the decision was made by the acceptance of EU Directive 96/67/EC which has reduced the PO monopoly from 350 grams to 150 and, by 2006, to 50 grams. This was rubber stamped by the European Parliament in 2002.

Sub post offices have never been expected to be 100 per cent self-sufficient and have always been dependent on Government subsidy. They have existed as a necessary humanitarian service. The abolition of the pension book has made them more dependent and the £75,000 "bribe" to sub-postmasters to close is extremely hard to refuse. This money would be better spent enabling them to stay open!

Finally, can I say that the MPs for Bury North and South, whilst purporting to defend the interests of the public, are actually accepting the principle that sub post offices are no longer a necessity but are purely profit-making businesses. It is time for a concerted, combined opposition to every closure, without exception.

JIM HOMEWOOD